Recovery of respiratory muscle strength, physical function, and dyspnoea after lobectomy in lung cancer patients undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation: A retrospective study

Objective To characterise changes in respiratory muscle strength, physical function, and dyspnoea in patients who underwent pre- and post-operative exercise intervention following lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods This retrospective study included NSCLC patients who underwent lobectomy via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) and pre- and post-operative exercise intervention consisting of breathing, flexibility, resistance, aerobic exercises, coughing/huffing techniques, and early mobilisation. Maximum mouth inspiratory (Pimax) and expiratory pressures (Pemax), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), quadriceps force (QF), and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale were evaluated preoperatively, at hospital discharge, and post-lobectomy 1 and 3 months. Results Data from 41 patients were analysed. At hospital discharge, the Pimax, Pemax, 6MWD, and mMRC dyspnoea scores were lower than pre-operatively; QF remained unchanged; Pimax and 6MWD recovered to pre-operative values at post-lobectomy 1 month; and Pemax and mMRC dyspnoea scores recovered at 3 months. During sub-analysis, Pimax and mMRC dyspnoea scores in the VATS (n = 24) and PLT groups (n = 17) recovered to pre-operative values at post-lobectomy 1 and 3 months. Conclusion After lobectomy, respiratory muscle strength, physical function, and dyspnoea in patients who underwent exercise intervention returned to pre-operative values at post-lobectomy 3 months.